Volvo Introduces World’s Largest Bus Chassis In Brazil

Volvo Buses has unveiled the longest-ever bi-articulated city bus chassis at the FetransRio exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Designed specifically for South America’s high passenger capacity BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) systems, the buses built on the latest chassis can carry 30 more passengers than the longest chassis (27.2 metres) so far. The Gran Artic 300 has been developed and manufactured in Brazil.

The Volvo Gran Artic 300 chassis is basically a ‘puller-type’ double-articulated bus with four axles and three passenger compartment sections. The internal combustion engine is mounted on the floor of the bus chassis in the first (primary) deck, with the cooling system mounted on the roof. Unlike other Volvo chassis designs found in Sweden, this one is not a low-floor configuration chassis as the Brazilian BRT systems involve elevated and enclosed stops. It is equipped with five doors for free flow of passengers and better passenger distribution inside the cabin.

A Volvo Bi-articulated bus in operation in Brazil. (Image for representation purpose only)

Volvo is one of the leader bus chassis maker for BRT systems, where buses run on dedicated lines providing efficient, less-tiring, and cost-effective mobility in urban areas. The company has strong presence in South Amercian continent, where most of the major cities have BRT networks. In fact, the one in Curitiba, Brazil is the world’s first BRT system active since 1974. Large buses reduce the number of vehicles plying in the transit corridors, resulting in an increased average speed and traffic flow. Articulated buses are also highly efficient than the two or three rigid buses combined, therefore reduced emissions in city spaces.

Major Brazilian bus body builders like Marcopolo, CAIO, Busscar, and Neobus are known to make bi-articulated buses atop Volvo chassis. More than 4,000 units have been delivered by the company to the region so far. Apart from Gran Artic 300, Volvo’s bi-articulated chassis line-up includes three other 3-axle models – Artic 150 (18.6 m), Artic 180 (21 m), and Super Artic 210 (22 m).

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Dhiyanesh is equally crazy about driving cars and writing about them. This guy loves everything with a steering wheel, so, at someday if self-driving cars take up all driving, he is sure to go nuts! He likes sedans of 90s era, esp W140 S-Class and R34 Skyline GT. Apart from usual motoring stuffs, he maintains a strong appetite for sociological perspectives on cars, their historical and cultural footprints. He owns a 1999 Fiat Siena passionately, and drives a Ford Fiesta.